Dr. Brownstein: Nobody Knows What Optimal Blood Pressure Values Should Be

Nobody knows what the optimal blood pressure values should be. I can assure you there is not one number that is optimal for everyone at every age. When I was in medical school, I was taught that normal blood pressure rises with age. This is still true. As we age, our arteries become stiffer therefore, we require a higher blood pressure to pump blood to the entire body. It is ludicrous to believe that an 80-year-old should have the same blood pressure as a 20-year-old. Setting blood pressure guidelines for everyone at 120 mm Hg or less guarantees that nearly every adult over the age of 40 will require a blood pressure medication in order to meet these guidelines. This study is another example of the Powers-That-Be trying to scare us into taking more unnecessary drugs.